Congratulations Tim Peake

[cider_and_toast]

Through the European Space Agency, Great Britain now has its first fully paid up and funded astronaught safely aboard the International Space Station. Test pilot and former Army Major Tim Peake begins his six month stay on the ISS this evening.

As I've posted before, Britain was the 4th country to place a satelite in orbit using our own complete launch system but became the 1st country to abandon the entire project. British industry still has a huge amount to offer in space and aeronautical technology so it's great that we now have a way of inspiring young engineers.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I'm disappointed I haven't read any 'this is ground control to Major Tim' gags yet but maybe that's showing my age.

 

[gethinceri]

Maybe there would be more if his name was Tom.

 

[FB]

I can't help but feel that Simon Jenkins has put all my thoughts in this matter into one article.

Tim Peake’s space mission is sheer political vanity | Simon Jenkins

 

[cider_and_toast]

I stopped reading that article the moment it praised Richard Nixon and Tony Blair in the same paragraph.



I'm a fan of space exploration, science and technology. There are far worse ways to spend money. At least in space nations collaborate on projects. So what if a bit of capital was made out of it in the press it beats the shit out of endless crap about IS, slagging off Jeremy Corbyn, never ending talk of buget cuts and blah blah blah.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Tim has completed his mission to replace the power unit. Good man. Walk is continuing right now.

| NASA TV

 

[cider_and_toast]

I await the next press article claiming this essential repair was nothing more than a PR stunt that could have been fixed by just winding the window down, leaning out and giving it a rattle.

 

[Bill Boddy]

The walk was cut short due to water appearing in Tim Kopra's helmet. There was not a lot but it was cold; this indicates that it was due to a leak from the space suit's cooling system. Either that or the rain has spread even further than we thought.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Nice 'Battlefield promotion' for Tim Peake as well. He took over EV1 duties from the other Tim.